The ceremony is expected to take place in Washington on Thursday, December 4, and will be attended by Presidents Paul Kagame and Félix Antoine Tshisekedi. President Donald Trump will preside over the event.

Speaking to journalists on Monday, December 1, President Ndayishimiye said he intends to attend the ceremony because he was invited.

He took the opportunity to thank the U.S. government for its efforts in reconciling Kigali and Kinshasa, as well as for the progress achieved so far between the DRC government and the AFC/M23 rebel group through the Doha talks.

Besides the President of Burundi, another leader expected to be in Washington as a witness to the agreement is President William Samoei Ruto of Kenya, who currently chairs the East African Community (EAC).

Ndayishimiye is set to attend the ratification ceremony of the Rwanda–DRC peace agreement at a time when Rwanda accuses his country of continuing to undermine it.

Last month, Foreign Affairs Minister Amb. Olivier Nduhungirehe said that although the agreement signed on June 27 requires all parties to cease hostilities, the DRC army, jointly with Burundian forces, has continued launching attacks on the AFC/M23 rebels and on Congolese civilians, mainly those from the Banyamulenge community.

He also accused Burundian troops of continuing to collaborate with the FDLR in the conflict, despite the Washington agreement requiring the dismantling of that rebel group.